Practice device

ABSTRACT

A practice device suitable for practicing golf putts, especially one provided in a mat, the device comprising a target and an upstanding shock absorber. When provided in a mat the device has a flush entry point thus accurately simulating an actual golf hole. Preferred embodiments include an essentially straight shock absorber which is higher in the centre than at its edges thus retaining more centrally struck putts adding further to the realism of the device. Certain embodiments include a light emitting means to define the target and means to detect the presence, speed and direction of balls moving into or out of the target.

This invention relates to a practice device having a simulated hole,particularly but not exclusively for use as an indoor golf puttingpracticing device.

A number of different indoor putting practice devices are currentlyavailable. Older semi circular or “moon” receivers are known but oftenresult in a firmly struck ball moving around the curve and thus beingexpelled from the target. Certain simulators, such as wedge shapedsimulators or flag pole types have a ramp over which the ball musttravel in order to be received in the target.

More popular simulators include electric return cups which provide aramp to receive an accurately struck golf ball and have a mechanism toreturn the golf ball to the user. Another type is the so-called “AshTray” type that have upstanding fingers that only fold towards thecentre. The ball knocks over the fingers to move into the target and isheld therein by the opposite fingers which do not fold outwards.

Whilst the skilled person would perceive no problem with these puttingtargets the inventor of the present invention has noticed that they donot accurately simulate the sinking of a putt on a golf course.

The inventor of the present invention has found that the aforementioneddevices require the ball to reach a certain speed before it will bereceived and “putted”, for example, to climb a ramp or to cause a fingerto fold. This is unrealistic since in a real-life situation the ball cansimply fall into the hole with the smallest of speeds when it reachesthe hole in contrast to the speed required in order to be “putted” withsuch existing practice devices.

Moreover certain known putting devices also resist exit of the golf ballfar more than a hole would in an actual game. Golfers realise if theyputt too hard, the ball will strike the back of the hole and may reboundforwards, skip over the hole or “lip-out”. This is not replicated inknown practice devices where balls may be “holed” even when struck at aspeed which would, in a real life situation, cause the ball to bereleased from the hole.

An object of the present invention is to provide a practice device toreceive golf balls in a more realistic manner compared to certain knownpractice devices.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provideda practice device comprising a target and an upstanding shock absorber.

Thus in contrast to previous practice devices a resilient shock absorberis provided which more accurately models the behaviour of golf balls.

Preferably the device being adapted to be placed on, more preferably, ina mat, wherein at a first side of the target, the device is flush withthe mat and at a second side of the target, the upstanding shockabsorber is provided.

Preferably the device is a golf putting practicing device although itmay be used for other sports, such as snooker or pool.

The mat may be a carpet but is typically a golf practicing mat such as aroll out mat.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provideda practicing mat comprising a practice device having a target and anupstanding shock absorber, wherein at a first side of the target, thedevice is flush with the mat and at a second side of the target, theupstanding shock absorber is provided.

Typically the first and second sides are opposite each other.

Thus golf balls struck towards the target can enter the target throughthe side of the device flush with the practice mat and no extra speed isrequired to reach the target (as is the case in a real life golf hole)in contrast to known practice devices which require ramps or the speedto displace a finger. Moreover should the ball continue through thetarget, it will strike the upstanding shock absorber. Depending on thespeed of the ball it can either be retained within the target and so becounted as a successful putt, or rebound from the shock absorber and bereleased by the device and therefore be counted as a missed putt. Thisis consistent with a real life situation wherein a ball reaching thehole with a certain degree of extra speed will be retained by the holewhereas if the ball has too much speed it will be released from thehole.

“Retain” will herein be used to describe a situation where a ball isheld within the target and is considered a successful putt and “release”will be used to describe a situation where the ball leaves the targetand is considered a missed putt.

Preferably the shock absorber is adapted to retain an increasing numberof shots within the target the closer they are to the centre of theshock absorber.

Thus if a shot is struck which reaches the shock absorber at its centreit is more likely to be retained than a shot which reaches the shockabsorber off-centre. The further from the centre a ball strikes theshock absorber, the less likely it is to be retained.

This increases the realism further since with a real golf hole, shotswhich strike the hole at the centre are most likely to be retained inthe hole whereas the shots which arrive at the hole off-centre aredecreasingly likely to be retained—rather they will often “lip out” ofthe hole.

To provide this feature the shock absorber may be increasingly weakerfrom the centre of the shock absorber to the edges thus allowing anincreasing number of shots to skip over the target as they reach theedge thereof. However, preferably the height of the shock absorberreaches a peak at its mid point, and the height tapers downwardly eitherside of its midpoint thus causing an increasing number of shots to bereleased from the target as they reach the edge thereof.

The height of the shock absorber can vary depending on the resilienceprovided therein. The height at the centre may be any suitable heightsuch as in the range of 3-20 mm, preferably 8-16 mm, more preferably10-14 mm especially around 12 mm.

The height at the edges of the shock absorber may be any suitable heightsuch as in the range of 1-18 mm, preferably 5-14 mm, more preferably7-11 mm especially around 9 mm.

Thus preferably the height of the shock absorber does not taper to zeroat the side of the target.

The angle of the shock absorber may be 70-110° preferably 80-100°especially around 90°. Preferably therefore the shock absorber extendsdirectly upwards from the surface on which is its resting (it is atright angles thereto.)

Preferably the resilience is 30-100 IRHD, preferably 60-80 IRHD,especially around 70 IRHD.

Preferably the target is a circular target. Preferably the shockabsorber is arranged as a tangent to the circular target. Preferably thetangential point is at the centre of the shock absorber.

Preferably the shock absorber is a straight line but may be slightlycurved. When curved, preferably the shock absorber has a much smallerdegree of curvature than the target. When curved, preferably thediameter of a circle defined by the curvature of the shock absorber is 5to 10 times the diameter of the target.

Thus surprisingly it has been found by the inventor of the presentinvention that such a shape of shock absorber results in a morerealistic behaviour of the practice device compared to the provision ofa shock absorber positioned exactly along circular edge of the target.

Preferably therefore there are interstitial areas between the circulartarget and the shock absorber. These interstitial areas may be sloped toencourage the ball to move towards the target and also model the“lip-out” behaviour of balls which reach a hole at the edge thereof.

The practice device may comprise a light emitting means which may in usedefine the target.

Thus according to a third aspect of the invention there is provided apractice device comprising a target and a light emitting means, whereinthe light emitting means in use emits light which at least in part,defines the target.

The third aspect of the invention may independently include any featureof the first or second aspects of the invention.

Preferably the device is a golf putting practicing device although itmay be used for other sports, such as snooker or pool.

In one embodiment, the device comprises a base portion and a neck with ahead. The light emitting means may be mounted on the head and willtypically in use shine onto the surface on which it is standing in orderto define the target. The neck is not necessary for some embodiments egthey may comprise a head supported on legs.

The light may comprise a partial filter or fitment to cast a designshadow on the target—for example the light and filter may cast acorporate logo onto the target.

The base portion may include the shock absorber as described herein.

Alternatively the base portion may comprise a plurality of legs,typically at least three legs preferably four legs.

Preferably the legs are pointed and so minimise the likelihood ofcollision between a ball and the legs.

A shock absorber may be provided between the legs. For certainembodiments of the third aspect of the invention, the shock absorber maybe removable. The shock absorber (and/or target) may or may not beconnected in use to the device—it may be used without any connection andhave sufficient weight or other anchoring means to cope with ballscolliding therewith.

Alternatively the light emitting means may be hung from a ceiling orother object.

The device may contain means to detect the presence of balls travellinginto or through a target and preferably measure the speed and/ordirection of the balls entering the target and optionally leaving thetarget.

The device may contain a further light emitting means to displayincremental measurements on the surface on which it is standing.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provideda practicing mat comprising a device according to the third aspect ofthe invention.

Preferably the practicing mat is a golf practicing mat.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided adevice to detect the presence of balls travelling into or through atarget.

Preferably the balls are golf balls.

Preferably the device measures the speed and/or direction of the ballsentering the target and optionally leaving the target.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention there is provided a methodof practicing golf putting, the method comprising:

-   -   playing a putt such that it comes to rest a certain distance        past a target.

The target may be a point target or a line target. Practicing accordingto the sixth aspect of the invention reduces the likelihood of a ballmeandering as it approaches the hole which it tends to do at very lowspeed—a ball tends to hold its line better (on breaking and straightputts) the faster it is travelling and is not influenced so much by anyirregularities in the grass. Practicing to putt to a point beyond thehole helps to teach people how to putt at the right speed to avoid suchirregularities.

Preferably the method according to the sixth aspect of the invention isperformed with the apparatus according to the fifth aspect of theinvention.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way ofexample only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is perspective view of a first embodiment of a golf puttingpractice device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a further perspective view of the FIG. 1 practice device;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the FIG. 1 embodiment in a putting mat;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the presentinvention with a shock absorber in place;

FIG. 6 is a second perspective view of the FIG. 5 embodiment with theshock absorber removed;

FIG. 7 is a sectional plan view of the FIG. 5 embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a front view of the FIG. 5 embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the FIG. 5 embodiment and a practicing mat.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of a golf putting practice devicein accordance with the present invention. The device 10 comprises a base12 having a target area 14 and an upstanding shock absorber 20.

As shown in FIG. 3, the device 10 is placed in a putting mat, green orcarpet 18 so that a first end 16 (opposite the shock absorber 20) isfacing the direction from which golf balls will be putted. The thicknessof the base 12 can be varied to suit different thicknesses of mats. Alsoshown in FIG. 3, the device 10 and therefore the entry to the target 14is flush with the mat 18. Even if the mat 18 is contoured in order tosimulate a sloping green, the target 14 will still be flush with the mat18. Thus a ball struck with just enough energy to reach the target willdo so, as is the case with a real life hole, but in contrast, many knownputting practice devices unrealistically require extra energy, forexample, to climb a ramp or displace a finger.

In use, balls struck with enough energy to move through the target 14will collide with the shock absorber 20. The shock absorber 20 can bemade from rubber or any other resilient material and will absorb some ofthe energy of the ball. The ball can either be retained by the device 10or will flip over the shock absorber 20, just as it would in a real holeif a shot is struck too hard.

Referring to FIG. 2, it is shown that the centre of the shock absorber20 has the greatest height 22 a, and the height of the shock absorber 20tapers towards the edges so that the heights 22 b, 22 c and 22 dgradually decrease in size thus increasing the likelihood of a ballbeing released by the device 10 following contact with the shockabsorber 20, resulting in a close simulation with an actual golf hole.Although the weight of the shot has to be more accurate as the line ofthe shots deviates from dead centre 22 a, the edge of the shock absorber20 is not flush with the target since all but exactly weighted shotswould then be released which is considered unrealistic.

The height of the shock absorber at the centre is preferably around 9mm.

The target preferably has the same diameter of real golf holes, that is4.5″ (108 mm).

The target's surface may be made from a material which increases thefriction between the ball and the target in order to encourage balls torest thereon. Between the shock absorber 20 and the target 14 areinterstitial ramps 19. These bias the ball towards the target 14 but areof a relatively slight slope that balls will frequently have enoughenergy to move upwards on these ramps and lip-out and be released by thedevice 10, again realistically simulating the effect on a real golfhole.

The device 10 may be manufactured as a rubber moulding, but could bemade from various other materials that would absorb the energy of theball. The target is preferably white and the surrounds are preferablygreen so that when putting from a distance on a green mat, the eye willonly pick out a white circle as per a real hole on a golf course.

FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention which need notbe inserted into a practicing mat. A putting practice device 100comprises a base 112, a neck 113, a target 114, a shock absorber 120 anda light 130. The shock absorber 120 functions as described for the shockabsorber described in relation to the first embodiment. However, thetarget 114 is provided in use by the light 130 shining onto the surfaceon which the device 100 is placed. A line 125 may be attached to aidalignment of putts.

Like the first embodiment, the second embodiment also benefits from theunobstructed entrance for golf balls and the realistic exit simulated bythe shock absorber 120 on the opposite side of the target 114; all asdescribed above. A particular benefit of the second embodiment is thatit does not require a putting mat and so is more compact in use—puttsmay be rolled across a smooth carpet to the device. It may also be usedon a proper grass golf green.

The base 112 and neck 113 can be made of any suitablematerial/process—plastic injection moulding, zinc alloy moulding, diecasting etc. The light 130 can be provided by many sources such as LightEmitting Diodes (LEDs), filament bulbs, halogen bulbs or other lightemitting sources. The light may or may not be housed within a tube, tocolumnate the light to give a crisp bright circle without blurred edges.Columnating uses a tube through which light shines through and off theinside of the tube—this produces a bright, clearly defined, lighttarget. A lens may be used instead of, or in addition to, a tube, tofocus the light. however a lens reduces the light intensity and so isless preferred.

The light power source can be provided by batteries or mainselectricity. The light 130 can also be fitted with a removable fitmentor filter that can project, for example, a cross hair shadow within thewhite circle (which is particularly useful if used in conjunction withthe putting alignment line 125). The fitment can be of any geometricdesign to cast a shadow on the surface and could alternatively be acompany logo for example. The light 130 preferably emits white lightalthough other colours may be used, for example, to associate the devicewith particular companies. Thus certain embodiments of the inventionhave a hollow under-body below the light for insertion of any type ofmodule for differing market requirements. The fitment may also be usedto increase or decrease the size of the target as required.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a third embodiment 200. The third embodiment 200comprises a body 240 with a light 230; a light generated target 214, ashock absorber 220, four legs 212 and optionally a guide line 225. Thisparticular design is in the shape of a spider but it will be appreciatedthat many different designs may be used. The shock absorber 220 is thesame design as detailed above for the first embodiment and also includesarms 228 to secure it to the legs 212 and allow it to hold its positionunder the body 240 in use. Certain embodiments may not comprise arms andthe shock absorber may be free standing.

The body 240 also includes sensors 246 which can measure the presenceand/or the speed of the ball. The sensors 246 can induce sound, flashinglights, electronic signals etc to give feedback that the ball has beenholed (i.e. finishes within the circumference of the white circle).

The sensors 246 can be optical, laser/infra-red, ultrasonic or a cameradevice etc; these are widely available from, for example, RS components.A mains adapter connection can also be used as a feedback line for anelectronic signal to be sent to a remote signalling device such assounds, flashing lights or a data displayed on a screen. the device 200may indeed comprise such signalling devices for example flashing lightsor sound may be emitted from the body 200. A further adaptation of thefeedback signal could be visual—a computer display screen can show areal hole with the ball dropping or lipping out, as calibrated and fedback from the sensor array.

FIG. 7 shows such a body in more detail. The body 240 is plasticinjection moulded (or could be any other suitable material/process forexample zinc alloy moulding). The body 240 has battery recesses 242 aswell as a mains power connector 243, and an on/off switch 244. Thesensors 246 are provided around the periphery of the body 240 whichdetect the movement of balls into or through the target area. Thesensors 246 can be connected to a visual output in order to provide dataon the speed of the balls travelling therethrough. Such embodiments maybe particularly useful in golf schools or clubs or used by golf coaches.

Normally the function of the third embodiment is the same as theprevious embodiment—golfers can practise aiming their putts into thetarget defined by the light whilst the shock absorber 220 realisticallyrecreates the retaining/releasing properties of a hole. However, asshown in FIG. 6, the shock absorber 220 and arms 228 may be removed toallow balls to travel straight under the body 240. This is to allowindividuals to practise, on occasion, putting “through” a hole, that istrying to play the shot so that it would have enough speed to come torest at a certain distance past the hole. This reduces the likelihood ofthe ball meandering as it approaches the hole which it tends to do atvery low speed—a ball tends to hold its line better (on breaking andstraight putts) the faster it is travelling and is not influenced somuch by any irregularities in the grass. Practicing to putt to a pointbeyond the hole helps to teach people how to putt at the right speed toavoid such irregularities. Of course, aiming too far past the hole cancause the ball to skip past the hole—therefore it is best to strike theball at a strength which would naturally come to rest a certain distanceafter the hole, not at the hole. The optimum distance is around 35-45cm. This can be practiced by using a target which does not include ahole or other means for retaining the ball, such as the third embodimentwith the shock absorber 220 removed.

As shown in FIG. 6, without the shock absorber, the ball can travelthrough the white circle to a calibrated distance behind it. The sensors246 can give the positive feedback required to indicate if the putt hastraveled through the light target 214. The sensors 246 can also measurespeed and direction of the ball as it enters and exits the light 214.

Incremental markings can be made on a mat 218 showing distances past thetarget 218, as shown in FIG. 9. The markings can also be produced byarea boundary markers such as small plastic rods (not shown) joinedtogether. Certain embodiments of the invention project such markingsonto the surface using a light source, either from the body 249 or froma remote source (not shown). The combination of light circle andstopping area gives the golfer a target 218 to aim at (as on a real golfcourse) and also, if the ball 262 comes to rest within the stoppingarea, it gives feedback to the appropriate speed of the putt.

Hence with such an arrangement, the golfer can known whether they havecrossed the target (by the sensors providing audio or visual feedback)and they can also read the distance from which they overshot the targetin order to try to optimise their strength of their putts.

The third embodiment 200 also allows more than one user at a time to usethe device—four users can be accommodated from the four compass points.Also the device 200 can be placed on a slightly inclined slope andseveral balls in a circle around the device and an individual can worktheir way around each ball in order to practise putts having a line witha different slope (since they are shot from different angles on theinclined slope).

As shown in FIG. 8, the legs may be hinged for smaller packagingpurposes or may be removable. The devices are of sufficient weight sothat any ball hit at speed and striking a leg 212, will not cause thebody to move. The bottom of the legs 212 have protruding teeth to givethem a firmer hold on a putting green, mat or carpet. The bottom of thelegs may be fitted with rubber “socks” to prevent cosmetic damage to thesurface of the legs caused by continual bombardment of golf balls.

Thus the various embodiments of the present invention provide a golfputting practice device having a far more realistic behaviour comparedto certain known designs.

Improvements and modifications may be made without departing from thescope of the invention. For example a series of devices according to theinvention may be hung from a ceiling—for example nine may be hung toproduce a small indoor putting green. This may be particularly usefulwhere space is at a premium.

Suitable software may be added to provide gaming additions or to recordand analyse scores or other data. The software may be designed forindividual or group play.

1. A practice device comprising a target and an upstanding shockabsorber.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1, which is a golf puttingpracticing device.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 1, which is adaptedto be placed on or in a mat, wherein at a first side of the target, thedevice is flush with the mat and at a second side of the target, theupstanding shock absorber is provided.
 4. A device as claimed in claim1, wherein, in use, the shock absorber is adapted to retain anincreasing number of shots within the target the closer they are to thecentre of the shock absorber.
 5. A device as claimed in claim 4, whereinthe height of the shock absorber reaches a peak at its mid-point, andthe height tapers downwardly either side of its mid-point.
 6. A deviceas claimed in claim 1, wherein the height at a mid-point of the shockabsorber is 8-16 mm.
 7. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein theheight at end-points of the shock absorber are 5-14 mm.
 8. A device asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the resilience of the shock absorber is30-100 IRHD.
 9. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the target is acircular target and the shock absorber is arranged at a tangent to thecircular target, the tangential point being at the centre of the shockabsorber.
 10. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shock absorberextending from an end-point through a mid-point to the oppositeend-point is curved or preferably straight, and when curved the diameterof a circle defined by the curvature of the shock absorber is 5 to 10times the diameter of a circle defined by the target.
 11. A device asclaimed in claim 1, wherein there are interstitial areas between thecircular target and the shock absorber which are sloped between thetarget and the shock absorber.
 12. A device as claimed in claim 1,comprising a light emitting means which in use define at least a portionof the target.
 13. A device as claimed in claim 1, comprising means todetect the presence of balls travelling into or through the target andmeasure the speed and/or direction of the balls entering the target andoptionally leaving the target.
 14. A practicing mat comprising apractice device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at a firstside of the target, the device is flush with the mat and at a secondside of the target, the upstanding shock absorber is provided.
 15. Apractice device comprising a target and a light emitting means, whereinthe light emitting means in use emits light which at least in part,defines the target.
 16. A device as claimed in claim 15, comprising abase portion and a neck with a head and the light emitting means aremounted on the head and, in use, shine onto the surface on which it isstanding in order to define the target.
 17. A device as claimed in claim15, wherein the target defined by the light is a circular target.
 18. Apracticing mat comprising a device according to claim
 15. 19. Apracticing mat as claimed in claim 18, which is a golf puttingpracticing mat.
 20. A golf practice device comprising a target and ameans to detect the presence of golf balls travelling into or through atarget wherein the device measures the speed and/or direction of theballs entering the target and optionally leaving the target.
 21. Amethod of practicing golf putting, the method comprising playing a puttsuch that it comes to rest a certain distance past a target.